Parenting and the Media Challenge by Dr Saustin Mfune Associate GC CHM Director

1. Parenting and the Media Challengeby Dr Saustin MfuneAssociate GC CHM Director

2. The 21st Century children are submerged in media technology. This is all what they know. In the USA, as many as half of all kids up to age 8 use internet-connected devices. 7.5 million kids under 13 use Facebook.

3. 30% of apps on parents’ phones are downloaded by their kids.  The kids are playing games, watching videos, or using Skype with far-off relatives. 

4. This is how tomorrows’ children may end up learning the alphabet • A - Apple (reference to Apple media gadgets) • B - Blackberry • C - Computer • D – Download • E – Email • F – Fun • G - Google

5. H - Hp • I – iPhone • J – Java • K – Kaspersky • L – Laptop • M – Microsoft • N – Nokia • O – Opera • P – Printer/PC

6. Q – Qwerty • R – Rapidshare/Reddit • S – Skype • T – Twitter • U – USB • V – Vista/Vine • W – Windows • X – XP • Y – Youtube • Z – Zukerberg (founder of FaceBook)

7. Apps the teens are using now • Facebook • Instagram • Twitter • Pinterest • Reddit • Tumblr • Kik

8. Vine – This app lets users record and post short videos. It is only 1 year old • Snap chat • Pheed • Wanelo • 4Chan

9. In most western countries, as early as kindergarten or first grade, the kids are being introduced to their teacher’s website using the PC or laptop in the school library.

10. Melina Mara reports in Washington Post of two-year-old Maggie Awad who plays an app game called Icee Maker, on her mother's IPod Touch.

11. In 1983, Motorola introduced the first widely available handheld cellphone weighing 0.91 kg costing $3,957.

12. It is now estimated that out of the world’s estimated 7 billion people, 6 billion have access to mobile phones.Read more:

13. In 1983 the first Compaq Laptop Computer weighing 12.73 kg was produced and it sold 53,000 in the first year alone. To date, billions of laptops have been marketed.

14. There are more than 1.5 billion TVs in the world.

15. Internet cafes are also giving internet access to many people.

16. Mike M. Lekic, PhD, MPH, MDiv, talking of explosion of knowledge states that:- It took 1,500 years for knowledge to double – that is from 1 AD to 1500 AD It took 300 years to double again from 1500 to 1800 It took 100 years to double again from 1800 to 1900 By 1940 knowledge was doubling every 20 years By 1970 doubling every 7 years Today it’s doubling every 1-2 years By 2020 our collective knowledge will double every 72 days

17. And it is media technology which is helping in the speeding of the doubling of knowledge.

18. Lekic furthers observes that in 2005 there were 600 billion web pages on the Internet doubling every six months so that in 2006 the estimated annual growth was 2,400 billion pages.

19. Jean Boonstra states that we cannot deny the fact that media technology has done a lot of good. In her article entitled ‘Talking About Social Media’ published in the Adventist Review of October 27, 2011 (p. 24-25), she cites a research done in 2006 surveying Dutch adolescents. It was reported that social media improved the Dutch teen’s self-esteem.

20. American Academy of Pediatrics released a report in 2011 showing that social media can improve teen’s technical skills and provide creative outlets for writing and music. Because of social media, communication has been made much easier making the world a real global village. You can do your research on the web. Then there is internet TV and Radio. I listen to Malawi Adventist radio on the internet and its for free.The list of good things goes on.

21. What concerns most parents is the negative side of the social media. The pornography and other lewd and immoral activities found on the net. Social media can be a time waster and a health destroyer.

22. The cancer time bomb Parents [are] sentencing their children to disease by letting them sit in front of TV and computer screens for hours on end, warn experts. Children should only be allowed less than two hours of screen time a day, doctors warn. They [doctors] are 'increasingly concerned' about children being too inactive. Those [children] who spend hours playing games, surfing internet and watching TV risk developing diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2258817/Cancer-warning-Doctors-urge-parents-cut-childrens-TV-time-cut-risk-disease-later-life.html#ixzz2t7Q3paMWFollow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

23. The problem in life is not the good we have but it is how the good is abused. How the good has become the channel of evil. As we all know, children have a tendency to imitate what they see.

24. In the USA one research reported that. .

25. Then there are the hidden (subliminal) messages

26. So what should parents do? Should they throw away the baby with the bathtub water?

27. Should parents say “No” to media gadgets?

28. That may not be practical.

29. What we should realize is that technology has come here to stay. Daniel 12:4 tells us that in the last days knowledge shall increase. Therefore, it is the duty of Christian parents and teachers know how to help children positively use this knowledge.

30. Here are some practical suggestions parents can do so that this good does not destroy our children. And not children alone, but parents themselves as well.

31. 1KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE. The advert below used to flash on the screen of USA TVs with a powerful voice asking a disturbing question. IT’S

32. Joseph and Mary in Luke 2:41-45 forgot their son in Jerusalem. For the whole day they had no idea where He was. They were busy with everything else except taking care of their son.

33.  One would think that such embarrassing details would not be in the Bible.  But this detail is there for a reason.  It reminds us that being a religious person does not automatically make us responsible parents. We have to learn to be responsible.  

34. 2 Duane McBride, Gary L. Hopkins, Peter N. Landless, Romulus Chelbegean, and Alina Baltazar in their article "Twenty-first-Century Sleep Deprivation. Is our lifestyle robbing us of a good night's sleep?" give four tips to help parents help their children manage media:- a Setting good examples as parents in the use of technology and entertainment.

35. b Keep internet access and TV only in public locations in the home, not in the bedroom.

36. c Having children/adolescents leave cell phones with parents before going to bed. Don’t allow TV in the Bedroom.

37. d Supervising children's use of entertainment, media, and technology, and setting time and content limits.

38. 3 Be friends with your children and create time to play with them.

40. If you don’t create time to be with your children, then you are forcing them to find company and that company will be the media gadgets.

41. 4 Some experts suggest that try to limit watching TV to less than 2 hours a day. Turn it off during meals times. Eat at the table rather than in front of the TV.

42. Meal times should be times when you can talk to each other as family members. Let meal times be bonding time.

43. 5Help your children learn how to guard avenues to their souls. In Proverbs 4:23 the wise man warns: “Keep [search, guard] your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (NKJV).

44. In her book Adventist Home, Ellen White says that we are to “guard the senses, lest Satan gain victory over them.” (P 401). It is through our senses that the Devil is able to penetrate our minds. Let us guard our senses and our hearts against his cunning attacks.

45. Here are some points that will help keep Satan frustrated. • Help your children spend more time with the Faith Book, the Bible, and less time with Facebook. • Control what your children watch on TV, DVDs, the Internet, etc. • Involve them in the social media gadgets discussions. • Help them listen to music that draws them closer to Jesus.

46. . • Have an active worship program at home. • Practice healthy principles. • Depend on the power of prayer. • Help your children to be selective in the kinds of materials they read. Help them to read only that which is spiritually uplifting. • Help them to keep busy in good things. Remember the saying:- “An idol mind is the devil’s workshop.” • Start training them for the proper use of social media gadgets from the time they are still young.

47. THE END GODBLESS YOU